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PARENT HANDBOOK School of Early Learning First United Methodist Church 1203 E. 7 th St. Auburn, IN (260)925-2570 Email: [email protected] Website: auburnumc.church
PARENT HANDBOOK
School of Early Learning First United Methodist Church
1203 E. 7th St.
Auburn, IN
(260)925-2570
Email: [email protected]
Website: auburnumc.church
CONTACT INFORMATION
First United Methodist Church
School of Early Learning
1203 East 7th Street
Auburn, IN 46706
(260)925-2570
www.auburnumc.church
Director—Jodie Cruz [email protected]
PRESCHOOL OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Friday 8:30am – 3:15pm
ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION
DART Transportation Service—If your child will be using DART, please inform the
school so that we are aware.
260-925-3311
TEACHER EMAILS
Ms. Sara [email protected]
Ms. Jessica [email protected]
Ms. Darla [email protected]
Ms. Mary [email protected]
Ms. Andrea [email protected]
Ms. Harmony [email protected]
Ms. Stephanie [email protected]
Each teacher maintains a classroom Facebook page. Please see teacher handouts for more
information.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the School of Early Learning at First United Methodist Church is to
instill in the children a love of God and the foundations of learning. We intend to
accomplish this by introducing and developing in children the skills necessary to
become a successful member of society through social development, creative
endeavors, motor development, and academic activities.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The School of Early Learning is an outreach ministry of the First United Methodist
Church located in Auburn, Indiana. The church and the preschool work
collaboratively to provide the children with a quality, Christian preschool education.
If you have not found a church home, First Church invites you to join their church
family. Service times are on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sunday
school for all ages is held at 9:45 a.m. If you would like more information regarding
opportunities to be involved in the church, please contact the church office at 260-
925-0885.
CLASS INFORMATION
LITTLE LEARNERS
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
This class meets two times per week for three hours. Students in the Little Learners
must be 2 years old by August 1. These students do not have to be potty trained,
however, parents are expected to provide diapers, wipes, and diaper cream. This
class is designed to aid young children in the development of social and motor skills.
This development will be encouraged through exploration of art and the senses,
songs, rhymes, and finger plays. Friday Little Learners provides students with the
opportunity to become familiar with a school and classroom environment while
learning how to cope with the anxiety of being separated from familiar
surroundings.
LEARNING GOALS INCLUDE:
Social and Emotional Development
Early Language Skills
Early Math Skills
Gross Motor Development
Fine Motor Development
Awareness of the 5 Senses
EARLY LEARNERS
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Students in the Early Learners should be 3 years old and potty trained or actively
potty training. Early Learners will begin to develop knowledge of basic shapes,
colors, letters, and numbers. These students will begin to develop pre-writing and
pre-reading skills through exploration of the alphabet.
LEARNING GOALS INCLUDE:
Social and Emotional Development
Active Listening and Following Directions
Perception Skills (Opposites and Matching)
Gross Motor Development
Fine Motor Development
Name Recognition
Number Recognition
EARLY PRE-K
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
This class accommodates students who will be 4 years old on or near August 1st but
will not be attending kindergarten in the fall of the next school year. The all-day
option for this class has a nap time included. Students in the Early Pre-K class begin
to prepare for the transition into kindergarten.
LEARNING GOALS INCLUDE:
Motor skill Development
Language Development
Letter and Number Recognition
Age Appropriate Math, Science and Writing Skills
Pre-Writing and Pre-Reading Skills
Social Development
PRE-K
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
This class is designed for students who will be 4 by August 1 and who will attend
kindergarten in the fall of the next school year. This class is designed to help the
students become independent and aware of the expectations as they begin the
transition into kindergarten.
LEARNING GOALS INCLUDE:
Large and Fine Motor Skill Development
Phonemic Awareness
Letter and Number Recognition
Vocabulary Development
Number Sense
Age Appropriate Math, Science and Writing Skills
Pre-Writing and Pre-Reading Skills
SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS
DELAYS:
The School of Early Learning follows DeKalb Central Schools for all weather related school
closings and delays. If DeKalb Central has:
2 Hour Weather Related Delay
School of Early Learning
Morning Classes Arrive at 9:30 am Dismiss at 11:30 am
School of Early Learning
Afternoon Classes Arrive at 12:00 pm Dismiss at 3:00 pm
School of Early Learning
All Day Classes Arrive at 9:30 am Dismiss at 3:00 pm
3 Hour Weather Related Delay
School of Early Learning
Morning Classes Cancelled Cancelled
School of Early Learning
Afternoon Classes and All Day
Students
Arrive at 12:00 pm
(No lunch served at school) Dismiss at 3:00 pm
If DeKalb Central Schools closes due to weather, the School of Early Learning will be CLOSED.
If you would like to receive text alerts regarding closings and delays and other important
school information, please pick up a form in the school office.
The School of Early Learning follows DeKalb Central Schools for school closings and
delays. Please be sure to check your local TV. or radio station each morning –even if
there doesn’t appear to be fog, snow or icy conditions in your area.
If DeKalb Central has a 2-hour weather related delay, all morning classes at the
School of Early Learning will be on a 1-hour delay and will begin at 9:30am with
doors opening at 9:20 am.
If DeKalb Central has a 3-hour weather related delay, all morning classes at the
School of Early Learning will be CANCELLED. M/W/F all day students would
begin school at 12pm doors opening at 11:50 am. No lunch at school on these
days.
All afternoon classes will begin at regular time during days when DeKalb Central
has a 2 or 3 hour delay.
If DeKalb Central closes due to weather ALL classes at the School of Early Learning
will be CANCELLED.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Please remember that at arrival and dismissal times there are many children going
to and from cars. Please reduce your speed and use extreme caution in the
parking lot. If your child is ill or will not be attending school on a scheduled day,
please call the school office so that the teacher is aware.
It is also important that everyone use caution when entering the building on fair
weather days. The church makes every effort to keep sidewalks, walkways and the
parking lot as clear as possible; however, there are times when the temperature
stays at a point where icy spots may be present. On days when the potential for ice
is greater, please try to avoid sidewalks that are used less.
ARRIVAL
All students should enter the building using door #2 (the lower east entrance).
During arrival, parents can park along the east and southeast sidewalks. Absolutely
NO PARKING along the sidewalk. This area is a fire lane and needs to stay clear.
Children should not arrive any sooner than ten minutes before class time.
DISMISSAL
Upon enrollment, families are to provide the School of Early Learning with a list of
persons who are allowed to pick up their child(ren). Children will only be permitted
to be dismissed to pre-approved persons. If you need to make arrangements for a
different person to pick up your child(ren), you must call or communicate this in
writing to the School of Early Learning in advance.
Each family has been assigned a dismissal number, which is documented by the
School of Early Learning staff. Please bring this number each time you pick up
your child(ren). At the time of dismissal, a staff member will send each student to
the authorized adult. The School of Early Learning reserves the right to not dismiss a
child(ren) to any adult without an assigned dismissal number until adequate
permission has been given by the child’s parent/guardian.
LATE PICK-UP POLICY
All children need to be picked up promptly at the scheduled dismissal time. If your
child is not picked up within 10 minutes of the scheduled dismissal time, a phone
call will be placed and your child will be sent to our after school program and a
$9.00 fee will be assessed. In the event that you are going to be late, the School of
Early Learning asks that the office is alerted as soon as possible.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
The after school program is new for the 2015-16 school year! It will run after school
until 5:30pm. School age children from the elementary schools nearby can also be
dropped off for our program. A registration form per student must be turned in to
the school office in order for a student to attend. Once registered, families may use
the program on a drop-in basis or a consistent schedule. Please remember that it is
the responsibility of each family to make arrangements if using DeKalb
Transportation or DART. Students can be picked up anytime from 3-5:30pm,
however, ALL students must be picked up promptly at 5:30pm.
SAFETY PROCEDURES AND LOCKED DOORS
The First United Methodist Church and School of Early Learning has adopted a child
protection policy to help ensure the safety of the children. As part of the Child
Protection Policy, all teachers, aides and volunteers, age 18 and over, must pass a
criminal background check.
To ensure the safety of the students of the School of Early Learning, ALL doors
leading into the preschool wings will remain locked at ALL times during the school
day. If you need entry into the School of Early Learning, please use the call box
located outside of door #2.
In addition to the above safety precautions, the School of Early Learning will
practice fire, tornado and lock down drills several times throughout the school year.
TUITION
Tuition payments are due by the 15th of each month. Any payment not in the
payment box on or before the 15th will be assessed a $25 late fee. All late fee notices
and statements will be sent home with the student and also sent to the email
address that is provided on the registration paperwork. The School of Early
Learning reserves the right to withdraw any student who is behind on tuition and
has failed to contact the School of Early Learning office to make arrangements. Once
tuition is current, the student may be re-enrolled; however, the $50 registration fee
may be required. You can make a one time or recurring payments online at
www.auburnumc.church. Be sure to reference your child’s name when paying
online.
You can pay online at www.auburnfirstunited.com. Make sure to reference your child’s name in the box provided. If you choose to set up automatic drafts from your account, be sure to cancel at the end of the school year.
Monthly Payment 2 Payments
(Aug. & Jan.)
1 Payment (Aug.)
(5% Discount)
2 Days per Week
(am or pm)
$89.00 Aug. $400.00
Jan. $380.00
$760.00
3 Days per Week
(am)
$134.00 Aug. $600.00
Jan. $570.00
$1140.00
3 Days per Week
(full days)
$189.00 Aug. $850.00
Jan. $808.00
$1615.00
5 Days per Week
(half day)
$189.00 Aug. $850.00
Jan. $808.00
$1615.00
5 Days per Week
(full days)
$299.00 Aug. $1345.00
Jan. $1311.00
$2690.00
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
There will be a total of 9 tuition payments for the school year. Each payment is due by the 15th
of each month. If
payment is made after the due date, a $25.00 late fee will be assessed. ALL payments must be placed in the tuition
box located inside of Door #2 or paid online at www.auburnfirstunited.com. Please do not place any money in your
child’s folder. Teachers will NOT remove any payments from your child’s folder. If you are having difficulty making
a payment, please contact the School of Early Learning to make arrangements 260-925-2570.
PAYMENT DATE DUE
Payment #1 August 15
Payment #2 September 15
Payment #3 October 15
Payment #4 November 15
Payment #5 December 15
Payment #6 January 15
Payment #7 February 15
Payment #8 March 15
Payment #9 April 15
**Scholarship applications are available upon request**
**Please note that the monthly payment amount reflects the total broken down into 9 monthly payments. This was done to avoid having to make 2 payments in one month.
LATE FEES
If a tuition payment is not made by the date due, a $25 late fee is assessed
and must be paid when the tuition payment is made.
Once an account is 1 month past due, the student may not attend class
without paying the past due amount or making payment arrangements with
the office.
If an account is not brought up to date within 1 month after the first late
tuition payment, the student will be withdrawn and the spot will become
open for registration until payment is made in full or payment arrangements
are made with the office.
If a child is withdrawn, in order to begin school again, the past due amount
must be paid, as well as the next month of tuition due. Please note, a new
registration fee may be assessed.
If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact the school office, 260-925-
2570, so that we can help by making payment arrangements with you to help avoid
additional fees.
CLOTHING
Play clothes and gym shoes with rubber, slip-resistant soles are most appropriate
for preschool. Children should dress to play outside in the spring and fall, weather
permitting. Dress clothes, long dresses and shoes without tread or with slippery
soles are discouraged. Please no shoes with elevated heels.
Please send in an extra set of clothes for your child. Preschool children may need a
change of clothes for a variety of reasons. The School of Early Learning does not
always have extra clothes. In the event that a child needs to change clothes and an
extra set is not available, parents may be called to bring a change of clothes in for
the child.
DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES
Each teacher at the School of Early Learning implements his/her own discipline
procedure in the classroom. Teachers will communicate this procedure to the
families at the beginning of the school year.
In extreme cases, a child who is habitually harmful or disruptive to the class and
whose behavior has not been improved satisfactorily may be dismissed from the
school for the remainder of the school year.
FIELD TRIPS
Field trips are a planned activity throughout the year and are an important part of
the children’s education. Parents will be required to give their permission for their
child(ren)’s participation in these trips by signing permission slip at the beginning
of the school year. Parents will be notified about any necessary changes in plans
regarding field trips. Children who arrive at school on the day of a field trip without
having turned in a signed permission slip will not be allowed to stay and will be sent
back home with their caretaker or parent. Parents will not be allowed to drive a
fieldtrip without having completed ALL of the steps in the new child protection
policy and have an active background check on file with the FUMC School of Early
Learning.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation for field trips is provided via the private cars of teachers and parent
volunteers. All children are required to be securely fastened into a certified car seat
for the travel portion of the trip. If a parent volunteers to transport children other
than his/her own child, the First United Methodist Church will require (and pay for)
a background check. Forms are available in the preschool office.
CAR SEAT POLICY
All children will be placed in car seats for all field trips. Parents are responsible for
providing a certified car seat for their child(ren) for field trips. Parents are
responsible for providing a certified car seat for their child(ren) for field trips.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
All children enrolled in the School of Early Learning are required to have a current
and accurate personal information form on file with the School of Early Learning
detailing their personal health information including allergies, diet restrictions,
medications, illnesses, and disabilities. A personal information form is distributed to
all parents of children enrolled in the School of Early Learning. The School of Early
Learning is not responsible for any incorrect information it may receive concerning
a child’s health.
MEDICATIONS
If your child must receive prescription medication, including inhalers, while at the
School of Early Learning, the parent must drop the medication off with the teacher
in its original container. Original containers should be placed in zip lock bags with
the child’s name, dosage, and times of medication. Medication forms MUST be
completed by a parent/guardian and on file in the office in order for the medication
to be given. Medication will Not be administered by any School of Early Learning
staff member without a medication form on file.
SICKNESS
Children who are ill should be kept at home so that they do not expose other
children to viruses and chance the spread of sickness through the school. This
includes children who have a fever of 100 degrees or higher, when not on a fever
reducing medication. If the child has a communicable disease (such as chicken pox),
he/she will need a doctor’s permission slip to return to school. Please be sure your
child has had no symptoms of illness for at least 24 hours before returning to school
so as not to expose other students to any virus. In the event that your child will not
be in school, please inform the school of the reason for your child’s absence.
HEAD LICE
Children who are found to have head lice will be sent home immediately for proper
treatment. The child will not be readmitted until the condition has been properly
treated by a family doctor or by over-the-counter remedies. Once the child’s scalp
and hair follicles are free of all lice and nits, the child may be re-admitted with a note
from a parent stating what treatment was used to remedy the situation. A child who
is sent home a second time with nits, nymphs, or lice will not be re-admitted to the
School of Early Learning without a doctor’s statement indicating that the child has
been properly treated. For more information about head lice, please contact your
family physician.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The School of Early Learning of the First United Methodist Church of Auburn, Inc. admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its education policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered program.
